Attorney Chuck Hobbs speaks at a news conference with a chart showing declines in state spending with black-owned businesses over the past few years.

Written by

Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital Bureau

A group of minority contractors and the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce today announced a federal lawsuit alleging that the state unfairly disqualified bids by black-owned businesses on contracts for promoting the national census in minority communities.

Tallahassee attorney Chuck Hobbs said the state isn't living up to former Gov. Jeb Bush's commitment to promote opportunity for minority businesses, when he scrapped financial quotas and set-asides more than 10 years ago.